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Chapter 31
Mikel
Mikel leaned against Bently’s truck as the sun blanketed him in warmth. The air was saturated with the sweet fragrance of summer flowers and fresh-cut grass. Children laughing in the distance mixed with the buzzing of insects. Bees darted in and out of the fresh blossoms, drinking their fill of the plants’ nectar.
Green Park hadn’t changed too much in the time he had been gone. Memories of that first night he’d rushed here to meet Remy descended upon him. She’d walked towards the back of her car in the same short floral sundress she’d had on at the café only an hour earlier. Her hair was shorter now than when he’d left, her dark tiny curls just reaching her shoulders.
Anxiety snaked around him as his stomach tied up into knots. He was a father. He was going to meet his daughter. He’d never thought this day would come. It was because of the pressure and responsibility of caring for a life—all the horrible things in this world he’d seen. What if he couldn’t protect her? Hopefully I don’t screw this up.
Remy unbuckled their daughter and took her hand, leading the curious little girl towards him. She was beautiful. A mini Remy with a hint of him. His heart thudded faster with each step closer they took. It was time. He straightened, reaching for the teddy bear he’d picked up at the local drug store. He’d been unsure what he should bring the first time he officially met his four-year-old daughter.
They stopped in front of him and he bent down on his knee. Lyra’s cheeks blushed just a little as she partially hid behind her mother’s legs.
He struggled to find the right words as questions flooded him, his mind tangled in a million emotions.
What was her first word? What did she like? What was her favorite color? Was she happy?
Guilt for not being there hung heavy on his shoulders, sinking its claws in his mind. He was overrun with his feelings: anger at Remy, at himself, and his past; joy that he was getting this chance; awe that this was his daughter standing in front of him, waiting for him to say something.
“Hello.” If one word could convey every emotion that welled up and overflowed in his chest, that was definitely not it. Nevertheless, it was a start.
“Hi.” Lyra sucked in her bottom lip. Remy rubbed the girl’s shoulder soothingly.
“Do you know who I am?” he asked.
She nodded. “You’re my daddy.”
Daddy.The word staggered him—a force to his already mangled guts. Never in a million years did he think that term of endearment would be used towards him.
“That’s right,” he managed to croak out.
She eyed the pink bear that he had forgotten all about. “Is that for me?”
Handing over the fluffy creature, he said, “Yes. I didn’t know if you liked pink bears or not.”
“Blue is my favorite, but I like pink too.” She hugged the stuffed animal close, and he was instantly jealous of the inanimate object.
“Do you wanna hang out for a little while? We can swing, or whatever you want to do.”
Remy added, “Lyra loves the swings. Don’t you, sweetie?”
The girl nodded, still seeming hesitant and unsure. “Why didn’t you come see me before?” she asked.
Of course the kid would ask the hardest question—one he didn’t have the answer to.
“Remember I told you that your daddy didn’t know about you? You were a surprise present.”
That was certainly one way to put it.
“Like the teddy bear?” Lyra held out the pink animal.
Remy bit her lip and nodded. “Sort of.”
“Daddy? Mommy said you were sick. Are you all better now?”
He drew a breath before replying, “I get a little better every day.” The truth was the nagging need to use was always there. He had just learned how to drown out the voice more effectively.
“Why didn’t you want to meet me yesterday? I’m impo-tant too.”
